Modeling device



Nov. 20, 1962 P. GANlNE 3,06

MODELING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1960 PETER GANl/VE',

IN V EN TOR.

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3,064,365 MODELING DEVICE Peter Ganine, 2289 El Qantento Drive, Los Angeles 28, Calif. Filed Apr. 18, 196i), Ser. No. 22,742 6 Claims. ((11. 35-26) This invention relates to a modeling device, the purpose of which is to facilitate and make easier and more interesting the formation of models and figures with modeling clay or other plastic or formable materials.

The concept of the invention is that of an articulated figure such as a figure of an animal, for example, a horse, the parts of which are constructed and/or configurated to receive and hold the modeling clay or other formable material so that it may be more precisely formed or sculptured while held by the figure. Preferably, the figure has articulated joints which are sufficiently stifi so that they will sustain themselves in any position in which they are set so as to simulate desired positions or motions. The figure or device may preferably be mounted on an adjustable pedestal supported from a stand or platform.

In a preferred form of the invention, the construction or configuration in detail comprises central or intermediate membranes or septums and positioned normal to each other with additional parallel spaced partitions or ribs lying in a third transverse plane. This construction provides a plurality of pockets opening outwardly in which the molding clay or formable material can be conveniently placed and held and then more precisely molded or configurated to the desired artistic or fanciful shape.

Portions of a figure other than articulated joints which are to be readily deformable may be formed from a primary member made up of a series of beads or bead-like members having sockets to receive an adjacent bead or bead-like formation so that a universally deformable structural element is provided, the incremental parts of which may have extending portions in the form of webs or ribs configurated to make possible the formation of any desired shape.

In accordance with the foregoing, the object of the invention is to provide a modeling device in the form of an articulated and/or deformable figure constructed to receive and hold modeling clay or other fo-rmable material which can thereafter be more precisely molded or shaped as desired.

Another object is to provide a device as in the foregoing object comprising parts configurated to provide pockets opening outwardly adapted to receive and hold the modeling clay.

Another object is to provide a device as in the foregoing object wherein the construction comprises flat members lying in transverse planes, each member being configured to a desired shape and a plurality of members forming ribs or webs lying in planes transverse to the planes of the other members and configurated to provide a desired external shape.

Another object is to provide a device as in the foregoing object wherein the members lying in transverse planes provide outwardly opening fiat-sided pockets adapted to receive and hold modeling clay which may then be more precisely formed to a desired shape.

Further objects and numerous additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detail description and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2. is a detail view of the neck portion of the model or device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred form of the modeling device which, by way of example, is shown in the form of a figure of a horse. The device is supported from a stand or platform 10 by way of an adjustable telescoping pedestal 11 having a set screw 13. The pedestal is suitably attached to the base 10.

The figure of a horse as shown in FIG. 1 is exemplary of any type of figure that may be made using the principles of the invention.

The figure as shown has a body part 15, a head 16, a neck 17; fore legs 20 and 21 and hind legs 23 and 24.

The neck is deformable universally to any desired shape or configuration as will be described presently. The figure is articulated, that is, the legs or limbs or attached to the body by articulated joints and the legs themselves have articulated joints. By reason of the articulated and/ or deformable construction, the figure can be shaped or adjusted to simulate any desired position or motion of the figure such as galloping, and it will sustain itself in that position while the modeling clay is being applied as for example by a child. The articulated joints are sufficiently stiff so as to hold their positions.

The parts of the figure may be made of molded plastic, for example, and have a particular construction or configuration to facilitate fabrication and more particularly to provide a configuration particularly adapted to receive and hold the modeling clay. FIG. 1 shows a preferred construction. Referring to the body part of the horse 15, this construction comprises a central plane member or septum 27 shaped generally to simulate the body of the horse. Numeral 29 designates another plane member or septum lying in a transverse plane generally intermediate or medial of the member 27. Its general peripheral shape is configurated to simulate the shape of the body of the horse at that plane or section. Numeral 31 designates parallel members lying in planes transverse to the planes of members 27 and 29 so that outwardly opening pocketsare formed between the various transverse members. The outer peripheral edges of the members 31 are shaped or configurated to provide the skeleton of the outer surface shape of the body of the horse.

The breast portion of the figure is formed using a similar construction. However, all of the transverse members need not necessarily lie in vertical or horizontal planes, the members 33 and 34 in the breast portion being tilted from the vertical as shown.

The head 16 is formed using similar construction comprising members lying in transverse planes and forming outwardly opening flat sided pockets. The head includesa central member 37, transverse member 38 and the parallel members 39, the outer periphery of the members being shaped or configurated to delineate the configuration of the head.

The legs or limbs are made using a similar construction. For example, the upper part of the leg 21 has transverse members 42 and 43 and the parallel transverse members 44, all of the members having a peripheral configuration so that together they form or delineate the outlines of the leg portion.

FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, a manner of joining the legs to the body by way of articulated joints. The central member 27 has an integrally formed transverse tubular bushing 49 which receives a tubular pivot pin 5% on the ends of which are pivotally mounted the upper ends of the upper leg portions 20 and 21. The pivot pin 50 extends through the plane member 42 of the upper leg portions.

The articulated joints in the legs themselves are formed simply by pivot pins such as the pin 51 pivoting together '3 an intermediate leg portion '52 and a hoof portion 53 as seen in FIG. 1.

The neck part of the figure is deformable universally to any desired shape or configuration. For this purpose, there is provided the structure shown in section in FIG.'2. It comprises spherical members or beads 57, each of which has a spherical opening in which is received a smaller spherical member or bead 58 which is integral with and extends from the adjacent bead 57. This particular construction may of course be modified in detail. It provides a structural element having a plurality of closely spaced universal joints as may be seen providing a high degree of deformability so that any desired shape may be realized.

Certain of the elements or members 57 as shown at 61 may have extending webs, frames or discs as shown at 62 having a desired peripheral shape or configuration to simulate any desired ultimate shape or configuration by defining the outline thereof. In this manner, the neck part of the figure is formed.

FIG. 4 shows a slightly modified form of construction.

The pedestal is shown at 11 attached to the central vertical plane part or membrane 65. In this construction, instead of providing flat-sided outwardly opening pockets to receive the molding clay, a plurality of outwardly extending pins are provided as shown at 66. The pins may be spaced and distributed as desired with the molding clay being placed between them and held by them. The length of the pins is adjusted so as to provide any desired exterior overall shape or contour. In other words, rises or projections and depressions in a surface may conveniently be provided for by adjusting the length of the pins 66 accordingly. To accurately delineate very irregular surface contour, this particular construction may be utilized with the length of the pins 66 dimensioned so as to delineate the irregular surface contour.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the invention provides a unique and highly utilitarian modeling device highly adapted to the formation of figures and the like from modeling clay or other formable material. The device provides the basic figure which is to be formed and it has the advantage that it may be initially shaped by reason of its articulated joints and deformability to simulate particular positions or simulated motion. The construction is adapted to the receiving and holding of the molding clay or other modeling material and to then having the material more nicely or precisely shaped after it has been initially applied.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a modeling device, a structure providing a general exterior contour of a figure to be modeled, said structure comprising at least one generally medial memher having a plurality of outwardly extending members, said outwardly extending members being formed so that their outer parts delineate generally the exterior surface contour of a figure to be modeled, said members having surfaces providing a conformation having pockets for receiving modeling material and holding said material while it is molded and contoured, another part comprising a generally stem-like member, said stem-like member being comprised of relatively closely spaced mutually articulated elements, said stem-like member having outwardly extending portions adapted to receive and hold a moldable material whereby a form is provided to receive the moldable material which is deformable into a desired shape or configuration.

2. The modeling device as in claim 1 wherein said stem-like member is formed of a plurality of bead-like members having spherical openings in which are received spherical portions of adjacent bead-like members.

3. in a modeling device, a structure providing a general exterior contour of a figure to be modeled and including a part comprising a generally stem-like member,

said stem-like member being comprised of relatively.

, closely spaced mutually articulated elements, said stemlike member having outwardly extending portions adapted to receive and hold a moldable material whereby a form is provided to receive the moldable material which is deforable into a desired shape or configuration.

4. In a modelling device, a structure providing a general exterior contour of a figure to be modeled and including a body member comprising a generally flat rigid medial member, a plurality of rigid elements rigidly fixed to and extending outwardly from opposite faces of said medial member, the outer extremities of said elements and the outline of said medial member delineating the exterior surface of the body of a figure to be modeled, and at least one skeletal figure member pivoted to said medial member and extending outwardly of said delineated exterior surface.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said elements comprise elongated rods.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said' elements comprise generally flat planar elements defining, with said medial member, a plurality of outwardly open pockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,510,505 Leonard June 6, 1950 2,545,210 Moore Mar. 13, 1951 2,714,269 Charles Aug. 2, 1955 2,770,072 Bast Nov. 13, 1956 2,803,903 Barry Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 898,898 France July 17, 1944 

